Foreign jobs hit record high in South Korea, exceeding 1.1 million

SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Foreign employment in South Korea has exceeded 1.1 million for the first time, driven by a sharp increase in international students and nonprofessional workers, government data showed on Thursday.

According to the National Data Center’s 2025 survey on foreign employment, the resident foreign population stood at 1.692 million this year, up 132,000, or 8.4 percent, from a year earlier. The rate of working foreign residents rose 1.4 percentage points to 70 percent, exceeding 1.1 million for the first time.

Growth was driven mainly by international students, whose employment rose by 23,000, and holders of nonprofessional employment visas, up 18,000. The number of unemployed foreign residents also increased by 15,000.

Nearly 90 percent of foreign residents, or 89.8 percent, said they intend to remain in South Korea.

By nationality, the largest groups among nonprofessional employment visa holders were from Cambodia and Nepal, each with 47,000 workers, followed by Vietnam with 39,000. Respondents said they chose South Korea because of relatively high wages and favorable working conditions.

As of May, Vietnam accounted for the largest number of international students in South Korea, at about 100,000, followed by China with 45,000 and Uzbekistan with 17,000. Students cited South Korea’s strong education programs and interest in their fields of study as key reasons for choosing the country.